The Lawrence family moved to the north west of England when Tommy was a child. On leaving school he worked at Rylands wire factory and played for Warrington Town as an amateur.

In 1957 he was signed by Liverpool then managed by Phil Taylor. He made his first team debut five years later under manager Bill Shankly (A v West Bromwich Albion 0-1) on 27th October 1962.

Lawrence retained his place for the rest of the season as Liverpool finished 8th and reached the F.A, Cup semi-finals in their first season back in the 1top flight.

The following season Lawrence played in 40 of the 42 league matches as they won the title.

In 196465 Liverpool finished 7th but won the F.A. Cup for the first time.

In 1965-66 they regained the league title.

Lawrence only missed a handful of games for eight years.

He earned the nickname The Flying Pig because of his ability to dive around the penalty area despite weighing more than 14 stone.

Lawrence held off the challenge of young rival Ray Clemence when he arrived from Scunthorpe United in 1967 until he was suddenly replaced by Clemence after a 0-1 F.A. Cup quarter-final defeat at Watford in 1970.

He played for Liverpool just once more, against Manchester City in a 22 draw at Maine Road on 26 April 1971.

At Liverpool, Lawrence won three Scottish caps. His debut was on 3rd June 1963 in a friendly away v Eire (0-1). He had to wait six years for his second and third caps, a 11 draw with West Germany in a World Cup qualifier and a 53 victory over Wales in a Home Championship match. During the latter appearance, Lawrence collided with the crossbar and had to be carried off.

After 390 league & cup appearances for Liverpool he joined Tranmere Rovers on 10th November 1971. He spent three years and made 80 league appearances for Tranmere under player-manager and ex Liverpool team mate, Ron Yeats.

Lawrence then went into the non league game with Chorley before retiring.

After retiring from professional football, Lawrence returned to work at Rylands as a quality controller.

In February 2015, Lawrence was inadvertently interviewed in the street by B.B.C. journalist Stuart Flinders who was asking elderly people if they remembered the 1967 F.A. Cup fifth round game between Liverpool and Everton. Lawrence replied "I do, I played in it. I was the goalkeeper for Liverpool."

Bless him, he was indeed the goalkeeper when the great Barry Endean scored the winner in the FA Cup quarter-final in 1970 - the picture of which adorns my front room wall in front of me now. Still the nearest I have ever come to passing out with excitement, as a then 13 year old. RIP Tommy, I feel I knew you well.

Bless him, he was indeed the goalkeeper when the great Barry Endean scored the winner in the FA Cup quarter-final in 1970 - the picture of which adorns my front room wall in front of me now. Still the nearest I have ever come to passing out with excitement, as a then 13 year old. RIP Tommy, I feel I knew you well.